Good Afternoon All,
There has been a lot of news activity in the past couple of hours and it has caused some confusion.
1. Toronto's Medical Officer of Health - Dr. Devilla - has sent recommendations to the Province detailing restrictions that she would like to see implemented in the City of Toronto. I have included her media release at the bottom of this email so you can read through it. These recommendations can't be implemented without the Province 's approval. The Premier just finished his media conference and did NOT implement these recommendations. He may do so at a later date but not today.
2. New Provincial Regulations announced this afternoon:
I'm providing the link to the Province's media release which details the new regulations announced by the Premier. These are the regulations that we will be following until further notice.
Key highlights of the new regulations include:
- Starting next Tuesday, October 6 covid testing will be by appointment only. Walk-in testing will end this Sunday, Oct.4
- Mandatory mask wearing in all public indoor settings across the Province - businesses, facilities etc.
- For restaurants and bars - indoor dining can continue but with only 6 people max at a table, and restricted capacity to the number of patrons who can maintain a physical distance of at least 2 metres from every other patron to a maximum of 100 patrons.
- Exercise classes in gyms and fitness centres restricted to 10 people and restricting the total number of people allowed in these facilities to 50 people.
- The Province is asking everyone to tighten their social bubbles - social bubbles have been growing over the past couple of months and need to tighten back to the range of 10. Especially important with Thanksgiving coming up next weekend - no large family gatherings.
Here's the link to the full release on today's new restrictions:
Here is the formal release from the city - again please note that these were recommendations NOT implemented by the Province today.
City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:
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News Release
October 2, 2020
Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health recommends the Province take immediate action to stop the further spread of COVID-19
Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, today wrote to the Province of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams, with strong recommendations to significantly reduce the further spread of COVID-19 in Toronto.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Toronto continues to increase, with the city at risk of experiencing exponential growth of COVID-19 infections. The seven-day moving average of COVID-19 cases, starting on September 1, was 40. On September 17, it was 84, and on September 29, it was 236 – an almost six-fold increase.
Other jurisdictions who have experienced a resurgence have taken action that has stopped the virus, while jurisdictions that have failed to act early, have faced months of rising cases.
More than 1 million people have now died around the world. In Toronto, we’ve lost more than 1,180 people – parents, grandparents, daughters and sons, husbands and wives, friends and colleagues, neighbours.
Dr. de Villa outlined all of these concerns of immediate health risks to the public if quick and decisive action is not taken. The following public health measure recommendations, then, were made to the Province today:
1. Restaurants and Bars: Prohibiting indoor dining. The City has explored two alternatives to this restriction, such as requiring individuals to only dine in with members of their household, or restricting indoor dining in areas of Toronto where case counts are highest. Dr. de Villa, however, does not believe that such measures will be either enforceable or effective.
2. General Public: Individuals to only leave their homes for essential trips. Drawing on experience from other jurisdictions, as well as the City’s own successful experience in controlling transmission during the first wave of COVID-19, Dr. de Villa recommends that people only leave their homes for essential activities, such as work, education, exercise and fitness, healthcare appointments and the purchase of food. Up to two individuals from outside a household would be permitted to provide social support if an individual lives alone.
3. Recreation, Sports and Gyms: All indoor group classes in gyms and indoor sports team activities to be discontinued.
4. Managing Public Health Measures in Large Venues: Require a plan be submitted to Toronto Public Health demonstrating how these venues will comply with public health measures, such as seating that ensures physical distancing and a method to collect individual contact information. Dr. de Villa has concerns about exposures and outbreaks in large venues, some of which can have a capacity of more than 100. She also expressed concerns about the current regulations that allow for 30% capacity in these venues.
Currently in Toronto, there are 169 active outbreaks in the community, as well as in congregate settings, such as schools, childcare, workplaces and long-term care homes. In the last three weeks, outbreaks in long-term care homes has increased from two to nine.
Between September 20 and 26, there were 45 active community outbreaks. Of these outbreaks, 44 per cent were in restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. Socializing in bars and restaurants is contributing to significant exposures and outbreaks. Last weekend, Toronto Public Health notified the public of a possible exposure to 1,700 people at the Yonge Street Warehouse, and another 600 exposures at Regulars Bar. Both establishments have cooperated fully with the public health investigation.
Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health has limited authority under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA) to act alone with such broad restrictions as recommended here. As such, Dr. de Villa has requested that Dr. Williams, as Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, use his legislative powers under the HPPA and the Provincial Emergency Order to enact these changes or consider making the necessary legislative and/or regulatory changes to provide her with the authority to take these actions as quickly as possible.
Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a copy of Dr. de Villa's letter.
Quotes:
"Throughout this pandemic, we have followed Dr. de Villa's advice to keep our residents safe and help businesses reopen. Toronto Public Health has made additional recommendations to the province about how we can stop the spread of COVID-19 now. These are tough recommendations, but I believe they are necessary in order to protect seniors in our long-term care homes and students in our schools. I will be fighting relentlessly to secure federal support for restaurants and other businesses. We need all residents and businesses to follow public health advice right now in order to stop this virus as quickly as possible and to avoid much tougher and much longer public health measures."
- Mayor John Tory
"This year we have all sacrificed so much. But right now, we need to do more. An unprecedented time requires an unprecedented response. If we are going to save lives and keep our schools open, the time to act is now."
- Councillor Joe Cressy (Ward 10 Spadina-Fort York), Chair of Toronto Board of Health
“We have seen in other places what happens when COVID-19 gains the upper hand. Without quick action to implement further public health measures, there is an acute risk the virus will continue to spread widely, causing serious illness, stressing the health care system and further straining Toronto’s economy. It is my duty as Medical Officer of Health to do what it takes to break the dangerous chain of transmission and so I have asked the Province to support us through legislation or by granting me further authority to act.”
- Dr. Eileen de Villa, Medical Officer of Health, City of Toronto
Susan Puff
Executive Director, Broadview Danforth BIA
Executive Director, Broadview Danforth BIA